What You Should Know About Plumbing Problems

What You Should Know About Plumbing Problems

plumbing problems are a common thing, even if the house is new you can’t be surprised if this happens to you. If you’re looking for a new house, don’t be fooled by its nice appearance, because problems might be hidden. Just remember you’d better check the house Sewer Line. These lines can be inspected with video equipment by licensed reputable plumbing contractors who will indicate the overall condition of the piping from the house to the city main connection.

This piping is the direct responsibility of the existing home owner(s) and costs of repair or replacement can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. These costs should be identified prior to sale or purchase. Many people have been surprised by these costs following their purchase and are either ill equipped or unable to follow through on making the necessary repairs. We encourage both honest sellers, and prospective buyers to know this information prior to any home sale.

If you want to prevent plumbing problems it’s recommended to try controlling what goes down on the plumbing drain, because cooking grease can solidify and clog drains. But if your drain starts to become clogged you can try to pour chemical-based drain cleaner or lots of boiling water down a sluggish drain to clear it. Before winter comes, turn-off flow to the outdoor spigots, This way you can prevent bursting pipes caused by water left in the lines that subsequently freezes.

Also, if you’re planning on going away for some time in the winter, remember to leave the heat on, you can turn it way down but don’t stop it and leave the kitchen and vanity cabinet doors open so heat can reach the pipes to avoid freezing.

Listen for dripping sounds and this way you can discover if you have a leaking faucet. Even though a dripping faucet may not seem to waste significant amounts of water, over the course of day, each individual drop adds up to thousands and thousands of drops, or gallons and gallons of water. Choose a time when there is little or no activity, such as early in the morning, or late at night, when the house is very quiet.

Learn the location of your water supply shutoff, and also individual supply valves so that leaks can be temporarily stopped when they are discovered, and the system can be shut down to make repairs. Commodes, vanities, and kitchen sinks usually have a valve for each supply pipe, and these are normally located on the adjacent wall underneath the fixture.

Also, if you need repairs it’s better to call a professional plumber, especially if you’re not confident in your abilities. Soldering pipes, replacing valves, and changing faucet seats may be better left to skilled persons with proper tools. If you use a chemical drain cleaning product for cleaning clogged or slow-draining pipes make sure you read carefully instructions first. If you have rusty pipes, be careful and don’t force them too much because the problem could get worse.